Being a Travel Agent is an amazing job. We get to help people plan their dream vacations – and we get paid to do it! Recent chatter from Travel Agents on Social Media has made me think of things we all wish people knew about us. So, here it is – Five Things Your Travel Agent Wishes You Knew.

We work crazy hours. We’re up first thing in the morning trying to get you those coveted FastPass+ reservations for your favorite (and very popular) rides and attractions. We’re also up very early to help get you the dining reservations you really want. We’ll sit on hold for HOURS to save you money. (No, that’s not an exaggeration. Just ask a Travel Agent who’s called Disney when a Free Dining promotion opens up.) 😉

We make less money when we save you money. Speaking of saving you money, Travel Agents are paid commission by their suppliers based on the cost of your trip. Which means when we save you money on your trip, we’re actually getting paid less. Yes, we actually will work longer hours for less to save you more money!

We don’t get paid if you don’t book with us. Getting paid commission means we only get paid if you book and complete travel through us. It’s very frustrating and disheartening for a Travel Agent when we spend hours researching and helping a potential client just to have them book it themselves – or worse – with another agent.

We’re passionate about what we do. We became Travel Agents because we love to travel ourselves. We want to help others find the best deals, and have the most amazing experiences. We’ll do everything and anything we can to help you have a great vacation. We put our heart and soul into planning your trips because we truly love what we do.

Our services are completely FREE! This is my personal favorite. 🙂 We’ll do all the research, make your reservations, provide you with things like itinerary planning, and more – at absolutely no additional cost to you. Your trip costs the same with or without us, so why not use our expertise to your advantage?

So what are you waiting for? Call you Travel Agent and start planning your next vacation!

Don’t have a Travel Agent? Contact me today at 203-516-7278, or visit me on Facebook

There are so many new and exciting attractions coming in June 2016 to the Walt Disney World Resort!

In Epcot, journey to Arendelle as you ride the new “Frozen Ever After”. In this attraction, you’ll board a boat to a “Winter in Summer” Celebration, where you will see some of your favorite Frozen characters, including Anna, Elsa and Olaf!

The Force Awakens in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where the new fireworks show “Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular” will light up the sky. Projections will turn the Chinese Theater and surrounding buildings into Tatooine, Starkiller Base and more!

In Epcot, the new “Soarin’ Around the World” is set to open on June 17, 2016. Feel the wind in your hair as you “soar” over sights like the Great Wall of China, and Sydney Harbor in Australia.

In Magic Kingdom Park, the new “Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire” stage show premieres with some of your favorite Disney characters. Join Flynn Rider, Rapunzel, Tiana, Naveen and more as they join Mickey and his Merry Makers in this joyous festival. This new stage show includes songs written by Brendan Milburn and Valerie Vigoda (“Toy Story: The Musical,” “Tinker Bell: Secret of the Wings”).

If you’re heading to Walt Disney World a little bit earlier, don’t worry! Animal Kingdom is set to premiere many new nighttime shows – plus the nighttime versions of rides like Kilimanjaro Safaris and Kali River Rapids – starting on Memorial Day, May 30, 2016.

Well, we knew it was only a matter of time before we had to say farewell to one of our family’s favorite meet and greets. With the end of the show this past June – plus all of the changes coming to Hollywood Studios in the next few years – sadly, we will be losing the Phineas and Ferb meet and greet at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. January 4 is the last day you will be able to visit with these Disney Pals.

It’s a bittersweet farewell to Phineas and Ferb, when you consider what will be gained once all of the construction is complete. Star Wars land is going to be amazing, and the addition of Toy Story Land will bring more much-needed family rides to the Park.

The meet and greet with Lightning McQueen and Mater will also close on January 4. I would expect that there would be the possibility of Lightning McQueen and Mater returning at some point in the future, with Cars 3 coming to theaters in 2017. It all depends on what direction the Park heads in once all of the construction is complete.

We will miss you, Phineas and Ferb. Some of our greatest memories have been with you guys – both in Walt Disney World and at home.

*Want to know how you can make unforgettable memories at the Walt Disney World Resort this year? Contact me today for more information!

If you’re familiar with the current Memory Maker photo package at Walt Disney World, then you know what a great product it is. For one price, you receive ride photos and videos, and all photographs taken by Disney’s professional Photopass Photographers.

At $149, the original Memory Maker is a great deal if you’re visiting Walt Disney World for a few days, but if you’re only there for a quick visit while in the Orlando area – or spending a night at one of the separate ticketed events like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party – then the $149 price may be a bit steep for you. You also have to buy the original Memory Maker ahead of time in order to get the $149 price. If it’s purchased three days or less before your vacation, the price jumps to $169.

Good news! Today, Disney has released the new “Memory Maker One Day” option. For $59, you will receive all of the same photos for a one day trip that you would receive if you purchased the original Memory Maker (ride photos, videos, etc.). At less than half the price of the original, “Memory Maker One Day” is a great addition to the current Photopass options. The best part of this new Memory Maker, is that you can purchase it after your day at Walt Disney World is done!

For more information on Memory Maker products, or to get a FREE Walt Disney World Vacation quote, contact me today! 🙂

One of my favorite things about going away on vacation are the amazing smells that find their way into your nose – and memories – on each visit. So, would you like to know how to bring the power of scent with you on your next Disney vacation?

Every time we go away on vacation, we find a scent that we can carry with us – in the car, and in our hotel room. Since lighting candles is against fire code, you can easily pick up an electric wax tart or scented oil warmer, or grab a plug-in for any outlet in your room.

My favorite place to shop for a scent is Yankee Candle. There you can find Car Jars, plug-in warmers, and even a candle to burn at home every time you want to remember your vacation.

If you’d like to find bath and body products, as well as home fragrance, then another great option is Bath and Body Works. They carry an extensive line of bath and body products, but also have candles, and even car fresheners. Many times, you can find all of these items in the same scent.

It’s amazing how quickly one scent can stir up memories of your family’s magical Disney vacation. It takes you right back to those amazing moments that last for a lifetime. And who wouldn’t want to go back to sitting by a Christmas Tree in a Cabin at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground? I sure would, and I do every time I light our Candy Cane Lane candle, or spray myself with my Twisted Peppermint body spray.

So, what are you waiting for? Get shopping, and bring back your scent-sational Disney memories – any time you wish!

They say running is 90% mental, so how do you get yourself moving and motivated to do it?

I recently downloaded music from some of the Parks at Walt Disney World, and here’s what I’ve learned:

Running to music from Epcot on a warm humid day totally brings me back to the day I ran the 10K in 2014. In my mind, I can even see Spaceship Earth to the left of me while I’m running. It’s such a great motivator to remember a big accomplishment from your life, and then build on that. (And no crying while running in public. 😉 )

Running to the song from Soarin’ is freaking awesome!! The wind blowing in my hair, the smell of the water – it’s just like being back there again. Of course it’s also really amusing if you have beat-sync set on your running app. Patrick Warburton’s voice gets a little funky while he’s doing the intro at the beginning. 🙂

Putting the old “Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It Street Party” music on beat-sync is not only entertaining – it’s hilarious!! It sounds like the entire cast hit Starbucks for a double shot of espresso before the parade. Oh my goodness! And it is SO hard to not dance along while listening to it! Listen – you can get away with pretty much any kind of public silliness when you’re at Walt Disney World. While running on a local trail? Not so much. Waving your hands around to music that no one can hear could put you in a van with the men in the white coats.

So there it is. The three things I learned this morning while running to my new Walt Disney World playlist. When you’re running – especially if you’re just starting out – you’ve got to find something that gets you moving and keeps you going along the way. I love the motivation and joy that comes from remembering all of the awesome times that we’ve had at Disney. It makes me smile, laugh and – most importantly – makes me forget about what I’m putting my body through at that moment! 😉